Tuesday, 30 July 2013

To move or not to move

It's been an emotional roller coaster ride for me these few weeks. All because we decided that we should consider the option of staying in JB, while working/schooling in Singapore.

The pros are mostly with smaller expenses, thus ability to save some, more space and perhaps the slower pace of life in JB. The cons - parents living in Singapore (but still not even that far to visit - just need to cross the causeway), and commuting during the peak hours across the causeway/2nd link. Basically only these 2. Biggest one being the commuting.

There is also anxiety of living in a new environment and again the commuting. I am also anxious that my son is anxious - will he be a prisoner there? Basically we can travel only by car. Of course there is a public bus to Singapore also but it'll take 1 hour for him. My girls on the other hand, are excited.

Then there are my parents throwing all the cons at us. It seems like a crazy move.

However by now the thought of doing nothing and staying put is also not a good option - seem like a stupid cowardly option. We need to decide on something.

Rent a 4 bedroom HDB flat in Singapore for $2500 + $200 car park fees ($2700) or rent a 4 bedroom semi-detached with garden and car porch enough for 2 cars in JB for RM4000 per month (abt $1600)Continue to pay expensive utilities, cable, internet and groceries bill - or get them all at a cheaper rate in Malaysia (up to 50% lesser in total!)?Scrap life savings / owe money to extend COE for the car, or make money from the house through rental to pay for it? Cannot let Singapore take advantage of us.

It seems obvious that we should bear some inconvenience of commuting to make some money and enjoy those savings.

Furthermore, there has been numerous families who have moved to JB, who have had the same anxieties and they say now they are used to it and they are still happy with their decision after few years. This is not the case for a few of my father's friends though, who bought 'weekend' houses in JB. Perhaps we have different reasons and motivations.

I also get anxious thinking.. are we moving to another country for good? Will it feel the same if we ever come back to stay in Singapore again? But then again, we're still working in Singapore everyday right? But it's not the same. It's not home.

I guess the problem with me and my family. None of us have had the experience of actually living in another country to study or work. So this one is a very big thing for us.

The truth is Singapore also doesn't really feel like home sweet home, with government paying more attention to money and investment. Singapore Inc. Yeap.. it's not home. It's a big company. You want to stay, you work and you pay.

Maybe we should just get over the anxieties and just do it. If we don't, we'll never know. It's not like we're selling our Singapore house NOW.. we're just renting it out. We can always come back after a year if things don't work out. Right? (come back to Singapore Inc. err.. )